Discover the thrill of Everest Skydiving

For the adventure junkies, it is always about pushing the limits, exploring new places just so they can feel that adrenaline rush. Be it surfing against the huge waves, skiing down the highest mountains of the world or parachuting from the tallest buildings of the busiest cities of the world - it has always been about the excitement and joy of doing something adventurous or often termed crazy that keeps them on the look out for new prospects.

If you are an adventure and mountain lover and seeing Mt Everest has always been on your wish list but an unrealized dream due to sheer physical and mental preparedness the arduous task of climbing Everest demands, Everest Skydiving (Established in 2008) could be the answer to your prayers. Dropping down from an aeroplane for an amazing free fall while you witness a magnificent spectacle of the highest peaks of the world, including the Everest, right in front of your eyes as you dive your way down to earth, is beyond words.

Not to say scaling Everest has lost its charm, but skydiving offers a newer and exciting option without having to undertake the difficult climb."We were exploring the scope of skydiving in Nepal for a while and then it struck us, what could be more outrageously new, adventurous and historic than have3 the dives conducted with Mount Everest in the backdrop? That is when the idea of Everest Skydiving came into existence, "shares dive, as the weather is fairly clean during these seasons. More than 70 divers from around the world, including seven Nepalis have already made the skydive, which is dubbed as 'world's highest jump' with the world's highest drop point at 12,350 feet above sea level.

The Journey
The journey to the adventure begins after landing at the airstrip in Lukla and the trekking t Syangboche - site for the Everest skydive. The qualified pilots will then take the divers to the height of 29,500 feet in a Pilatus PC-6 aircraft, equipped with state-of-the-art oxygen system from where the record-breaking jumps are made.

All through the adventure, Everest Skydives crew of leading skydivers and mountaineering experts will be guiding the divers.

The Thrill
There are two kinds of jumps offered at the Everest skydiving adventure, one that is performed solo by professionals and valid license holders and the another one in company of trained diving pilots called, 'tandem jumps'. The exit from the aircraft will be made at an incredible 29,500 feet above sea level, after which the divers will enjoy the thrill of a whopping 10,000 feet long free fall at approximately 120mph, before the tandem instructor activates the parachute. During the three to five minutes it takes to reach the ground, the instructor can either provide a gentle ride or a more thrilling roller coaster experience demonstrating spins and stalls depending on the pilot's skills, suitable weather conditions and as per the request of the tandem diver.

Tape it, flaunt it!
And what better way to show your friends and family what you have been up to than catching your incredible experience - from being fitted with the harness, plane ride, the jump and the freefall all in the tape, where the cameraperson will be flying close to the divers until the landing.
The price

"In all honesty, I can't imagine having to pay to make the Everest skydive jump, because it is really expensive and perhaps unaffordable for most Nepalis and I was no exception," remarked Maya Gurung, the first Nepali women to make the Everest skydive. And with the fare structure quoted by the company, we could not agree with her any less. But experiencing something so incredible as watching the Mount Everest in front of your eyes as you fall down, is worthpaying the hefty sum. But then, that is for you to decide. Everest Skydiving can rightly be termed as the most adventurous sport to indulge in the Himalayas and will continue to be so for several years to come.

Booking and Price (In US Dollars)
Solo skydivers: 25,000
Tandem skydivers: 35,000
Organized extended trekking: One pax: 2,000; Two pax or more: 1,500
Booking: The bookings for the Everest skydive jumps can be done via www.everest-skydive.com . The interested diver will be required to fill in a booking form available in the site and submit needed medical reports and bio-data. Visit their site or call Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure in Thamel at 01-4418100/01-4418400 for detailed information.

source:Adrenaline Rush , The Himalayan Times,14 March 2013
photo courtesy: everest-skydive.com